Legal Terrain for Stakeholders in an Integrated Tourist Resort Development
On December 27, 2020, the Maldives’ government introduced a legislative framework for integrated tourist resort (ITR) development as a separate tourism product in the Maldives. An ITR development is a project that combines a variety of tourism products including resorts, hotels, guesthouses, yacht marinas in a single project. This article explores the legal terrain for […]
Designating and Awarding an Integrated Tourist Resort Development
On December 27, 2020, the Maldives’ government introduced a legislative framework for integrated tourist resort (ITR) development as a separate tourism product in the Maldives. What is an ITR Development? An ITR development is a project that combines a variety of tourism products including resorts, hotels, guesthouses, yacht marinas in a single project. The project […]
Boundary Extension and Adjustment Under New Resort Boundary Regulations
The Ministry of Tourism launched a new set of Boundary Regulations on 14 March 2023. The regulations operate to repeal and replace the set of regulations earlier known as Boundary Regulations 2012, including all amendments brought to them. The regulations largely speak of the same subject matter, but some new provisions are introduced and others […]
Updated Boundary Regulations for Maldives Resorts Explained
The Ministry of Tourism launched a new set of Boundary Regulations on 14 March 2023. The Regulations operate to repeal and replace the set of regulations earlier known as Boundary Regulations 2012, including all amendments brought to them. The Regulations largely speak of the same subject matter, but some new provisions are introduced and others […]
How to Register a Spa in Maldives Under the New Regulations
The Maldives’ Government recently launched spa regulations by the name of “SPA (Registration and Operation) Regulations”. They were introduced and published in the government gazette on 21 February 2023. A week later, the government brought further updates to those regulations in the form of an amendment. All spas that are in operation prior to the […]
New Maldives Spa Regulations Explained
The Maldives’ Government has launched SPA Regulations by the name of “SPA (Registration and Operation) Regulations”. They were introduced and published in the government gazette on 21 February 2023 and its formal citation is R-74/2023. A week later, the government brought further updates to those regulations as an amendment and published this First Amendment to […]
Necessary Improvements to Resort Sublease Regulatory Framework
Sublease of resort properties is a common occurrence in the Maldives tourism industry. In the past half century, a significant share of tourism development is directly attributable to the creative gymnastics of sublease holders. In the absence of any tourism law protections or specific regulatory safeguards, the resort sublease agreements are left to be governed […]
Resort Sublease Legal Inadequacies
Sublease of resort properties is a common occurrence in the Maldives tourism industry. In the past half century, a significant share of tourism development is directly attributable to the creative gymnastics of sublease holders. Subleases happen in two forms: sublease of an operational resort; and sublease of a virgin island. In the last twelve months […]
New Avenue for Island Leases if Development is for Public Good
In an amendment brought to the Tourism Act in December 2020, the government created an additional pathway to acquire islands from the government for tourism development. The tenth Amendment to the Tourism Act recognizes the concept of cross subsidy as a valid means to acquire a resort lease if the development is deemed beneficial to […]
Acquiring a Maldives Resort: 7 Factors
As we look forward to unlocking our borders, reopening the country for tourists and salvaging the economy from the crisis inflicted on it by Covid-19, conversations from strategic and financial buyers are making subtle hints at the prospects of economic opportunity borne out of the pandemic. In addition to the prospects over likely debt financing […]
Three Issues Maldives owners raise with prospective operators
When an HMA deal is negotiated, one would very early on see the divergence in goals desired by the owner and the operator. Challenge is in bringing the parties with varying agendas to the table, engage in a mutually beneficial dialogue, and leave with a feeling of win-win for both parties, and celebrating that outcome […]
Maldives Resorts: Commandeered for Quarantine Facilities
As a matter of light conjecture, the Maldives is reported to offer the best quarantine facilities – fully functional tourist resorts. As we all know, the Maldives is under a public health emergency since 12 March 2020. That was a step taken in reaction to the first positive Covid-19 case in a visiting Italian tourist […]
